My only complaint about the AR Platform is the mental agony I suffer pulling RSO duty and watching all the non veteran noobs fumble their fancy new toys like a monkey trying HUMP a football...

For GOD's sake... if you've not been trained in the manual of arms on this rifle... Google it!

The design "can" be difficult to manipulate from the bench but knowing how to handle the features while standing will make it much easier to not look like a complete jackass when you come out to the range.

Duty day last month I pulled 2 newb AR shooter off there bench and made them watch a very proficient 12 year old girl handle her dads rifle.

I may be misguided, so I guess its more just my opinion. I don't care for some of the controls of the ar and I much prefer the reliability of and AK. And no I'm not saying ar's are not reliable, but the AK seems to take it to a whole new level.

I don't hate the AR but in the back of my mind there was the worry that my life could depend on it and that it would jamb as was the problem when they were first issued in Vietnam. So I sold it. I've had 3 AK's and went back to an SKS.

My favorite rifle would be the FN FAL. Piston drivin adjustable gas system. Solid steel. And a meaty .308 cartridge for close up or long range. It's expensive but the most fun to shoot out of automatic rifles. I love how with a couple turns on the gas tube you can adjust the load to the bolt or barrel for different loads and weights of .308.